North Devon

North Devon's population grew in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. Data from the census also show there were changes in marriage, religion and ethnicity.

The population reached nearly 94,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of North Devon increased by 7.0%, from just over 87,500 to 93,700.

The addition of just under 6,200 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, North Devon was home to, on average, 0.61 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older North Devon

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of North Devon increased by two years, from 43 to 45 years.

This coastal area had a higher average age than the South West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 3,400 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 1,000.

About 14% of people in North Devon are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and North Devon by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in North Devon

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in North Devon at a faster rate than across the South West.

In North Devon, the proportion of single people increased from 23% in 2001 to 28% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 27% to 31%.

Across the South West, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 27% to 31%.

The proportion of married people in North Devon fell from 56% to 52%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of employment

North Devon saw the South West's third-largest rise in the proportion of employed people.

In 2011, just under one in two (50%) people aged 16 to 74 in North Devon said they were employed, compared with 48% in 2001. The percentage that were unemployed decreased from 3.3% to 3.0%.

Across the region, only Isles of Scilly (from 50% to 54%) and East Devon (from 45% to 49%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of employed people.

Because of its small size, comparisons to Isles of Scilly should be made with caution.

The rate of employment was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were employed across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in North Devon

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 29% said they had no religion. The figure increased from 29% in 2001

The number of people in North Devon that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 14,000 in 2001 to just under 27,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 16% to 29% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious affiliation.

The percentage increased at a similar rate to the average across the South West (from 17% to 30%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in North Devon that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 66,000 in 2001 to about 57,000 in 2011 (from 75% to 61%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 7,100 to just over 8,000 (from 8.1% to 8.6%).

Just over 470 people (0.3%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from about 290 in 2001 (0.5%).

The population without a religion in North Devon increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and North Devon by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in North Devon

The percentage of North Devon residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.2% to 4.0% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.1%, while the percentage of North Devon residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90% to 89%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 3.0% in 2001 to 3.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in North Devon

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 98% said they were from the White ethnic groups. The figure increased from 98% in 2001

The number of people in North Devon from the White ethnic groups increased from about 87,000 in 2001 to about 92,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the local population, this represented a decrease from 99% to 98%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the South West (from 98% to 95%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in North Devon from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 320 in 2001 to just under 840 in 2011 (from 0.4% to 0.9%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 360 to about 790 (from 0.4% to 0.8%).

Just under 160 people (0.1%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 76 in 2001 (0.2%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in North Devon decreased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and North Devon by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

In North Devon, the proportion of private renting increased from 13% in 2001 to 18% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 11% to 17%.

Across the South West, the share of privately rented homes increased from 11% to 17%.

The rate of social housing in North Devon remained close to 11%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 73% to 68%.

Private renting in North Devon increased by 5.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in North Devon, the South West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of North Devon residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.8% to 5.6% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (80%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 68% in 2001. The percentage of North Devon residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23% to 14%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 5.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in North Devon decreased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in North Devon, the South West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in North Devon working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14% to 11% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.3%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.2% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 13% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in North Devon decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in North Devon, the South West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in North Devon, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.5% to 9.6% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (30%) households had only one person, compared with 28% in 2001. The percentage of households in North Devon which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 39% to 34%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.4% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in North Devon increased by 2.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in North Devon, the South West and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of North Devon residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.1% to 2.6% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.1%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 2.0% in 2001 to 2.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in North Devon remained close to 2.6%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and North Devon by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in North Devon with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.5% to 8.9% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in four (26%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 27% in 2001. While the percentage of households in North Devon without children remained close to 65%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.4% in 2001 to 8.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the South West

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

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